Osceola County Historical Society Blog

This month, Executive Director, Donnita Dampier is celebrating 11 years with the Osceola County Historical Society. Dampier has made it her mission to preserve Osceola County history and to educate the county’s residents and visitors about the area’s cultural and natural gifts. She works closely with city and county officials, and is often found championing the cause of history.

In her free time, Donnita can be found spending time with her family. She is involved with her church, as well as the Silver Saddles 4H Club. Her home, which she shares with her husband, son, two dogs, and two lambs, is full of life. She has passed on her love for history to her son, who enjoys reading books on the subject.

Program Director, Larissa Bixby, asked Donnita a few questions in order to get to know OCHS’s Executive Director better. This is what she found out:

LB: Why do you think it is important to preserve history?

DD: It is important to preserve history because it's the stories of those who have come before us. We have the privilege of learning from their achievements and their mistakes. History doesn't belong to us, it belongs to the people of the past and the people of the future. It's our responsibility to make sure that future generations have the same privilege of learning those lessons as we did.

LB: What do you enjoy most about your position as Executive Director?

DD: I enjoy sharing our county's history, and all about our organization with our community.

LB: What three traits define you?

DD: Faith, Love for Family, and Service to my community

LB: What’s your favorite line from a film?

DD: "We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all" – The Breakfast Club

LB: What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?

DD: My faith

LB: What’s one thing you cannot resist?

DD: Chocolate

LB: Where is your favorite place to be?

DD: Home or with family

LB: What is your favorite thing to do?

DD: Read and learn new things

LB: What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome thus far in your life?

DD: Being a mom. Raising a boy in this day and age is tough.

LB: How do you define success?

DD: I define success by how many people you have helped achieve their goals and dreams.

LB: What is the best book you have ever read?

DD: That's hard to answer, there are a few that are favorites, "A Land Remembered" by Patrick Smith, not just because I work for the Historical Society! "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, and "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen. Very eclectic, I know.

LB: Last question, tell us something that might surprise us about you.